Improvement in valve-gears for steam-hammers



N. PETERS. PHOTO-LxTHnGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C4 UNITED YSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH HAMILTON, OF NEWBURG, NEW YORK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,4112, dated March 27, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH HAMILTON, of Newburg, in the county of Orange and State ot New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement on the Valve Gearing ot' Steam-Hammers, and a new Inode of using single acting steam-hammers as doubleacting when required; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the construction and operation ot the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, makingapart of this specication, in which- Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top view ot' a direct-acting steam-hammer.

A is the hammer-head or ram; B B, the jaws of the hammer; C, the steam -cylinder; C', the steam-chest; S, the main steam -pipe leading from the boiler to the steam-chest.; S, a branch steam-pipe leading to a separate steam-chest, D', on top of the steam-cylinder C. S2 represents the throttle valve chest. The valve inside is movable by the rod s s, levers', and rod T, connected to the one end of lever M. O and Q represent the top and bottom dies; R, the piston-rod connecting the ram A with the steam-piston.

The lever L, the fulcrum of which is the point L2, fastened to the jaw B, is connected on the other end, L', by a bolt, b, to the connectinglink K, which is fastened by screw c to the ram A ot' the steam -hammen Some distance from the fulcrum L2, in the point L3, is secured lanother lever, N, to lever L by a pin, n, which is the fulcruni of lever N. To the one end of lever N is connected a rod,U U, which again takes hold ot the leverlV on its end n2. This lever Wserves to move the slide-valve inside the steam-chest C by the valve-stem w, and has its fulcrum in a small slot of a piece, N, bolted for this purpose to the valve-chest.

The ram A is shown in its lowest position. By the handle H moving upward the throttlevalve opens and lets steam into the steam-chest. The attending man now takes handle H2, and by pressing it down lifts the lever \V on top ot' the steam-chest, and by this operation the slidevalve moves upward, opens the steamport, and the steam pressing below the steampiston lifts the hammer-head. As soon as this ram commences to move the lever end L( ot'lever L follows the upward motion, and in this way the point L3 follows the same upward movement in a smaller degree. The attemling smith has now the whole movement ot' the hammer in his hand. It' this man allows the lever N to follow the upwardmotion of lever L, the slide-valve will open more and allow the steam to drive the piston with its full pressure to the full height otits stroke, and after the steam escapes the ram will fall down with its full weight; but as soon as the man draws handle H2 upward he pulls lever W down and the slide-valve shuts the steamport, thus cutting oft' the steam at any place, so as to allow the piston to move upward,bythe expansion of the steam lilling the space below the piston. to the full length otl stroke,or to keep the ram suspended at any place he thinks suitable for his work. By good practice the least motion of lever N enables the blacksmith to make a good et't'ect on the motion ot' the ram. It the smith wants a light blow, and the ram is falling with its t'ull weight, he moves handle H2 down a little, new steam is going under the piston, sufficient to work as cushion and to efteet a light blow or to stop the falling ram in its downward movement at any place he thinks proper for it. By a double acting steam-hammer this arrangement of levers L and N is more important yet. The stroke ot` the steam-piston is lengthened orshortened as soon as the smith is moving the handle H2 one way or the other. He can give quick blows,

light or heavy, just as he wants them for thev work.

That Iclaim as my invention is- The arrangement of levers L and N, in combination with link K and ram A for one, and with rod U U, lever 7, and the slide-valve for the other, lever, which enables the blacksmith to work single-acting and double-acting steam-hammers in the easiest possible manner,h

as described.

HUGH HAMILTON. In presence of- JNo. B. J. FnNroN, JAMES W. TAYLOR. 

